BAINA: Saligao Sporting Club outplayed Betalbatim Sporting Club 4-3 via the tie-breaker to move into the quarters-finals of the 43rd Bandodkar Memorial inter-village football tournament organized by Baina Sports Club, at the MPT ground Baina-Vasco, on Monday.
Klinsmann Pereira was at his best for Betalbatim Sporting Club while Craig Menezes was good for Saligao Sporting Club on the forefront.
Betalbatim SC began the match on an attacking note. Aniston Fernandes had two shots at the rival goal in the 3rd and 6th minutes but did not materialised into goal. Immediately, Craig missed the target for Saligao SC in the 8th minute.
Betalbatim SC continued to keep up the pressure on Saligao SC with Austin putting up a good show in the left wing but squandered opportunities which came his way.
Saligao SC were quick to pounce on several opportunities in counter attack. Sachidanand Satelkar created several anxious moments for the rival defence with his quick piercing runs from the left flank but the Betalbatim SC defence were equal to the task by thwarting his moves.
In the 12th minute, Klinsmann of Betalbatim SC got beyond Sachidanand of Saligao SC and squared the ball to Austin Fernandes but the latter shot wide.
Thereafter, Saligao SC made two dangerous attempts in quick succession both of which were denied by the alert reflexes of Betalbatim SC goalkeeper Ryan Fernandes.
In the 28th minute, Austin managed to pierce the Saligao SC defence and took a shot on target but goalkeeper Videsh Satardekar punched the ball above the goal post.
In the last minute of the first half, Klinsmann came with an attacking fashion with a supply by Aniston but to his dismay the rival goalkeeper was equal to the task.
The score was tied up at 0-0 at the end of the first half, with Betalbatim SC enjoying majority of ball possession and chances but failed to capitalize on the same.
Saligao SC began the second half on a positive note with a free kick opportunity coming in the 38th minute. But Craig’s shot sailed just above the goal post.
The players of both teams played their hearts out and tried to make the best of overcast conditions and a soggy playfield.
There were fewer opportunities to score for the teams but Saligao SC came close to scoring in the 49th minute with Andrew D’Mello taking a powerful shot from outside the box but the goalkeeper of Betalbatim SC was up to the challenge and made a remarkable save, diving to his right.
There was no breakthrough at the end of regulation time and the evenly contested match was set to be decided via the tie-breaker.
Videsh Saterdekar, Swanand Naik, Andrew D’Mello and Niazi Shaikha netted in for Saligao Sporting Club while Betalbatim Sporting Club were on target through Klinsmann Pereira, Aniston Fernandes and Bernard Rodrigues.
Deepak Naik, chairperson of the Mormugao Municipal Council, was the chief guesta and gave away the Man-of-the-Match awarded to Aniston Fernandes of Betalbatim Sporting Club.
